Local government in the United States

Local government of the United States refers to local government at the city, town, village, or civil township level within the United States of America.

In the more general sense, local government also refers to:

• state government, which have wide-ranging powers;
• regional government, which exists only in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area (Metro); and
• county (or in Louisiana, parish) government.

Almost all areas are covered by state governments, although special arrangements apply to the District of Columbia. With the exception of certain independent cities, all areas within states, excluding Massachusetts, whose counties have no administrative power, are included in county governments. Towns in the U.S. region of New England practice a form of direct democracy known as the New England town meeting.

Native American reservations are outside both state and county jurisdiction. In many states, Not all areas are covered by cities or townships; for these areas, the county fulfills all government functions below the level of the state.

During the Cold War, it was speculated by many that in the event of World War III, local governments would be among the few surviving government establishments and could form a base from which to establish a post-war reconstruction. This theroy has led many to believe that a shadow government exists, in which the presidential line of succession contains provisions to extend to local authorities in the event of a wide scale and major war in which the federal and state governments are eradicated.

The term "local government" is often not used when describing the governments of major cities. Such establishments are said to maintain municipal governments.